Just One Year(16)

“I do think on some level I feel like an extension of Ariadne, even though I don’t know her—especially since I’m practically the age now that she was when my father met her. It’s odd because, as much as she didn’t want me, I feel this strange connection to her—a connection to her need to flee. I just don’t have the balls to leave.” I knew then that I might have divulged more than I should. Shaking my head, I said, “I just told you way too much.”

“I’m really fascinated, Teagan. Thank you for sharing the story with me. Honestly, it explains a lot.”

I grinned. “Does that count for my first secret of ten?”

“The fact that you hide from everything because you feel like a reflection of your mother who abandoned you? Yeah, I’d say that counts for a rather big secret.”

“Yeah,” I whispered.

We sat in a comfortable silence. Then Caleb startled me when he jumped.

“Holy shit, Teagan!”

“What?”

“There’s one last marshmallow in the bag.” He smiled from ear to ear.

He had such a gorgeous smile.

“You scared me.”

“I thought we’d finished them. Gonna char this sucker up now, unless you want it?”

“No. I’m good.”

After a few minutes of watching him roast the last marshmallow, I realized my lips were upturned. And I didn’t know how long I’d been grinning. He’d somehow managed to put a smile on my face tonight, even though I’d just unleashed my darkest secret.

“Alright, Caleb. Your turn. Now you have to tell me your first secret of ten.”

“I already told you my first secret, remember?”

I squinted. “No.”

“Sure you do. You know, that you weren’t the one responsible for the smell in the loo.”

“Ah. Well, that’s sort of a waste of a secret.”

“Still counts.” He gazed into the flames for a bit before turning to me, his stare more incendiary than the fire. “Teagan, I do have secrets, and my biggest one is something that’s very hard for me to utter aloud on cue. But maybe in time I can talk about it with you. Okay?”

Chills ran through my body. “Okay.”

My mind began to race. Is it about his sister? He’d already told Shelley his sister died, so his biggest secret had to be something else.

I realized in that moment that my happy-go-lucky, witty “pseudo-brother” was far more complex than I had thought. Perhaps I was no longer the only one in this house with issues. That knowledge actually brought some comfort to me.

After Caleb polished off the marshmallow, he spoke with his mouth full. “This was fun. Like really, really fun. Thanks for going along with it.”

“I don’t want you to get the idea that I’m going to let you goof off like this all the time when you’re supposed to be studying,” I teased.

“Understood.”

“I’m gonna have to start cracking the whip.”

He grinned impishly. “Well, I didn’t know you were into BDSM. But alright…”

Even in the dark, he must have noticed my cheeks turning red.

Oh, the images that conjures up.





CHAPTER SIX




* * *



CALEB




Veronica and I walked past campus toward the trolley platform so we could go to lunch in Kenmore Square after our classes had ended for the day.

She seemed anxious and hadn’t had much to say, but she finally turned to me. “So, don’t kill me.”

“Uh…” I shook my head. “I don’t have any intention of doing that.”

“You might after you hear what I’m about to say.”

I stopped walking for a moment. “What’s up?”

“My parents decided to fly in for a couple of days. They’re here. My dad has really wanted to see more of Boston, so they decided to kill two birds with one stone—come see me and do some touristy stuff.”

We continued toward the platform. “That’s brilliant. What’s wrong with that?”

“When we get to the restaurant, they’re going to be there. We’re meeting them for lunch.”

Ugh. Now I saw where this was going. “Oh.”

“I know it’s too early to be meeting my parents. But they saw my photo of you on Instagram and are just curious about who I’m spending my time with.”

We stopped at the platform to wait for the trolley. This was a bit of an ambush.

Looking down at my ripped jeans and black hoodie, I said, “I would’ve dressed up or something if I’d known I’d be meeting your parents today.”

She placed her hand on my chest. “You look fine. Just be your usual, charming self.”

My mind raced during the trolley ride, which was only one stop. I had no idea what Veronica had told her parents about me. We’d never discussed exclusivity, either, though I hadn’t dated anyone else since arriving in Boston. Did they think I was her boyfriend? Was I her boyfriend? How do I explain myself?

Veronica and I had been having a good time, just shagging and hanging out. But I was nowhere near the meet-the-parents point.

When we arrived at the restaurant, Veronica waved to an older couple, who were already seated. They both stood up at the same time.